this is an abc news election update. this south carolina primary. now reporting, whit johnson. >> whit: good evening, i'm whit johnson, and we're interrupting your regular programming, because the polls have just closed in the south carolina republican primary, and now based on exit polls, abc news can project donald trump will defeat nikki haley in her home state. and we're just getting some

preliminary exit poll data, a glimpse of what was on voters' minds when they went to the polls today. nikki haley was hoping to tighten up this race in the final push here, but take a look at this, 77% of voters had already made up their minds on who to vote for last year. when asked which issue mattered the mothers in deciding how to vote, 39% said immigration, 33% said the economy, followed by foreign policy and abortion. i want to get right to our rachel scott in columbia, south carolina at trump headquarters, and rachel, what are you hearing from the trump campaign tonight? >> reporter: well, whit, donald trump was so confident he barely even campaigned in this state. tonight he is projected to deliver that crushing blow to nikki haley in her home state, a state that elected her to the governor's mansion twice. but nikki haley knew that she had an uphill battle here in south carolina, that the odds were stacked against her, she's vowing to stay in this race through super tuesday, she's really staking her whole argument here on the notion that

she believes she's the only republican that can defeat president biden in november. but to do that, she has to get through donald trump first, and she lost in iowa, she lost in new hampshire, she's projected to lose right here in south carolina, and she still cannot identify a state that she can win, whit. >> whit: rachel, thanks to you, our coverage continues on abcnews.com and our streaming channel abc news live, and we'll have the latest tomorrow on good morning america, and this week. for now, we'll return to regular programming, and for some, that's "world news tonight," i'm whit johnson in new york. ♪ >> announcer: from abc news world headquarters in new york, this is "world news tonight."

thanks for joining us, you're watching our continuing coverage of the south carolina primary on "world news tonight," abc news projecting donald trump is the winner, beating nikki haley in her own state, let's go to our political director rick klein who's been looking at the maps for us, rick, nikki haley says that she is going to stay in this race through super tuesday. but the map is not looking good for >> that's exactly right. after tonight the campaign basically goes national. a week from tuesday, super tuesday, 15 states coast-to-coast, california all the way to maine, but here's the thing, among those states there's only about seven, realistically where the rules allow nikki haley to even be competitive and he's going to be relegated to campaigning in those places if her campaign goes on beyond tonight, picking up delicates here or there in a couple places, as of super tuesday the campaign gets very, very fast paced. right now we're in the slower period of it. but by super tuesday almost half

of the delegates will have been awarded. that means that truly donald trump puts himself on a glide path to the nomination, nikki haley is essentially in a position of just looking for a couple of places where she can make some noise, pick up a delegate or two and hope she can be there as a backup plan if something dramatic happens to trump or his campaign. whit? >> whit: i know the data is still coming in but if we can go back to south carolina and talk about the electorate there, this is what's described as an open primary, so people, democrats, independents, could also vote in this primary as long as they didn't vote in the earlier democratic primary earlier this month, what do we know about the voters who turned out today? >> this is a key question for nikki haley. this is what's happened in the past. you typically have republicans about three quarters of the electorate, that back in 2000, a smaller share, a lot more independents that year, what we're seeing so far in the preliminary exit polls is that actually this looks a lot like 2016, the number of independents in our exit polls, around 21% to

22%, landing similar, that's not what nikki haley needed. she needed to drive up independent and even democratic voters. we know that republican voters are picking trump overwhelmingly. the argument she was making to these independents, to look the general election, it doesn't look to have changed the makeup of the electorate, whit. >> rick, thank you so much, let's bring in avery harper joining us at the desk. mary alice parks, and avery, you're looking at exit poll data. >> i find it interesting when we look at the preliminary data we're getting in, when asked about when voters made their vote about when they were going to figure out who they were going to vote for we found the vast majority of voters said that they were making up their mind before january, 78% say they were making up their vote before january, which really means that this vote was really baked in, there was nothing that happened this year, that actually changed the trajectory in this race, that's why we saw just how these candidates

campaigned here in south carolina. donald trump only had about nine events in the state of south carolina versus nikki haley, who invested a lot of time in the state, holding 51 events, but still that did not change a thing about what happened tonight. >> speaking of nikki haley, mary alice i want to come to you on this, you've spent a lot of time in south carolina, one of the things that haley was trying to -- the pitch making to voters, i'm more likely to beat joe biden in november, but according to exit polls they see trump as more likery to defeat joe biden and they voted that way. >> people that showed up in the republican primary. there's a lot of data that backing up what nikki haley was saying, the most recent national poll that looked at a hypothetical matchup, biden and trump within the margin of ere ro r but haley beating biden by 16 points. she had a lot of data to back that up. what avery was talking about, republican voters in south carolina made up their mind, a while ago, that tracks with what we heard so much on the ground

in south carolina. you know, i talked to republican leadership there, a few weeks ago, even in just the last few days, that told me over and over, it wasn't that people didn't like nikki haley, they remembered fondly of when she was governor but they love trump. they felt excited about trump. they felt like he had the momentum, especially this these last few weeks when the establishment, the party establishment in south carolina, it was so hard for nikki haley to make up any ground, even in this state, where she was supposed to have such a home state advantage. >> this will now raise even more questions about her potential path forward in this race, mary alice parks, avery harper, thanks so much. our coverage will continue on abc news live, our streaming channel throughout the evening. we do want to turn now to news happening overseas, the israel-hamas war, and some encouraging signs from the cease-fire talks under way in paris, word tonight that israel has agreed to an updated framework for a cease-fire and hostage deal in gaza.

what's in that potential deal and where the goerks go from here, abc's marcus moore is in tel aviv tonight. >> reporter: tonight, new signs of progress in negotiations for a ceasefire between israel and hamas that could release six american hostages from gaza. abc news has learned that israeli negotiators have agreed to an updated framework that would include a six-week cease-fire in gaza, and the release of 40 hostages, among them women, the elderly, injured and sick, but no male soldiers or bodies of the dead. in return, israel would release up to 400 palestinians from jail. israeli officials say they're waiting for a response from hamas, which could take a couple of days. this week, prime minister benjamin netanyahu proposing plans for gaza after the war, including security buffers and local governance. but the u.s. said it must meet basic principles. >> it cannot be a platform for terrorism. there should be no israeli reoccupation of gaza. the size of gaza's territory should not be reduced. >> reporter: and as netanyahu

commits to additional military action in rafah, world leaders and aid groups have expressed grave concerns for the 1.4 million palestinians taking refuge from the fighting. many of those families struggling to find basic food and medicine. in his message prime minister benjamin netanyahu also said that only a combination of military pressure and firm negotiations will lead to the release of their hostages. whit? >> whit: marcus moore for us tonight, thank you. and staying overseas, a multilateral coalition led by the u.s. launching a new round of air strikes against 18 houthi targets in yemen today, those targets included underground storage facilities for weapons and missiles, this in response to a surge in attacks by the iran-backed rebels on ships in the red sea and the gulf of aden. next tonight, an arrest in the tragic death of a 22-year-old nursing student in georgia.

lakin riley's body was found. no known relationship between the victim and suspect, calling this a crime of opportunity. we're learning new details about the suspect who made his first court appearance earlier today. here's abc's morgan norwood. >> reporter: tonight, the suspect charged in the killing of nursing student laken riley on the university of georgia campus going before a judge. jose ibarra charged with malice murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping in what authorities call the first homicide at u.g.a. in nearly 30 years. >> this court is not authorized under georgia law to set bond in light of these charges. >> we're also asserting his rights under the fifth amendment to remain silent. >> reporter: riley went missing on thursday, her friends calling police after the former high school cross-country star never came back from her morning run. officers finding her body hours later near the running trails at u.g.a., where she used to go to school. police say security camera footage and community tips led

them to ibarra, who police say is a 26-year-old non-u.s. resident from venezuela without an extensive criminal history. >> the investigation suggests that they had no relationship. he did not know her at all. i think this was a crime of opportunity. >> never came back from her morning run, officers finding her body hours later near the running trails at uga, where she used to go to school. police say security camera footage and community tips led them to ibarra who police say -- her nearby college augusta university describing her as a promising future nurse, her heartbroken sister writing on instagram, this isn't fair, and i will never understand it. but i know you are in heaven. he's facing separate charges of his own tonight. police say they approached him because he matched the description of a homicide suspect, when they asked for id he presented a fraudulent green card. whit? >> whit: disturing developments,

morgan, thank you. alabama lawmakers from both sides of the aisle scrambling to protect ivf treatments, those treatments now paused at nearly half of the state's fertility clinics after a bombshell state supreme court ruling that frozen embryos are children, the issue now front and center on the campaign trail with politicians trying to clarify where they stand. here's abc's doreen >> reporter: tonight alabama lawmakers scramble to pass legislation to protect access to ivf treatments, minority leader anthony daniels a detect filing a bill days ago after his state supreme court ruled that frozen embryos are children, triggering half of alabama's fertility clinics to halt the procedure. >> we have to do something about this immediately and i hope the republicans will work with >> reporter: republican senator tim melson already pushing a new measure that says embryos are not viable until they are implanted in the uterus. >> until it is implanted in the uterus, it is potential life and people shouldn't be criminalized

or be held harmful for things that happen. they should be held harmless. >> reporter: and now republican presidential candidates seeking to clarify their positions. >> i didn't say that i agreed with the alabama ruling. the question that i was asked is, do i believe an embryo is a baby? i do think that if you look in the definition, an embryo is considered an unborn baby. >> we want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder. >> reporter: but trump's team not making it clear where he stands. >> does he think an embryo is a child? >> i will not get ahead of the president on that either. i'll let him speak on that specific moral issue. >> reporter: the white house blasting trump, saying he is responsible for the court ruling. back in alabama, hillarie hoggle warns the decision has real consequences. she is now expecting a baby girl through ivf. >> if this thing would have happened nine months ago, you know, we wouldn't be pregnant.

>> reporter: women across the country who want to be pregnant could also have reason to be concerned. 12 states are introducing what they call fetal personhood bills that could have similar implications if passed. whit? white house zohreen reporting for us tonight, thank you. now to russia's invasion of ukraine entering its third year. president zelenskyy and leaders marking the occasion with a wreath-laying ceremony in kyiv. these stunning before and after images revealing the full scale of the devastation in a key eastern city as funding for ukraine remains stalled in congress. james longman reports from ukraine. >> reporter: russia's war on ukraine enters its third year tonight, with a series of strikes on odesa. a 70-year-old man was killed, and his wife among those critically injured in a drone attack on their apartment building. and ukraine's air defenses and ammunition for the ground war both running out. "there are just a lot of guys dying," one soldier says. "we are sitting here with nothing, and we can't do

anything. everyone has friends, and friends are dying, this is the most painful thing." oleksandra ustinova is on the team of lawmakers negotiating military aid with congress, where the $60 billion aid package is currently stalled. >> we're losing the war. >> reporter: russia's occupation of the eastern city of avdiivka a sign of what may lie ahead. these images showing the city at the start of the war and then today. >> well, unfortunately, avdiivka is only the first half. and we see that this is the first clear sign that if you don't have munition, if you don't have the means to fight, you cannot win a war. you're going to lose the war. >> reporter: the pressure is on congress to act. earlier i spoke with u.s. senate majority leader chuck schumer leading a delegation here. he's calling on republicans in the house to approve aid to ukraine. but isn't that the republican strategy? stop this from going through long enough so that in november, the betting on a trump presidency and that deal happens? >> well, most republicans know how important it is to do it. if we were to wait a year, it would probably be too late. >> reporter: meanwhile, president biden's massive

package of sanctions on russia -- more than 500 measures against individuals and military institutions -- unlikely to restrain putin, whose war economy is now being fueled in part by munition production. those sanctions also in response to alexei navalny's death. tonight his team say russian authorities have finally returned his body to his mother. whit? >> whit: james longman, thanks to you tonight. we're following any details about that small high-altitude balloon spotted flying over the western u.s. norad saying it was likely a hobbyist balloon and is now out of u.s. air space. the balloon was intercepted 40,000 feet over utah on friday. this coming one year after that chinese surveillance balloon was spotted over the u.s. there is much more ahead on with the world news tonight, including the national guard helicopter crash, the two victims identified. the daring rescue in new york, firefighters lowered by rope to take victims to safety.

h. (♪) this is a hot flash. (♪) but this is a not flash. (♪) for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause... veozah is the first and only prescription treatment that directly blocks a source of hot flashes and night sweats. with 100% hormone—free veozah... you can have fewer hot flashes and more not flashes. veozah reduces the number and severity of hot flashes day and night. for some women, it can start working in as early as one week. don't use veozah if you have cirrhosis, severe kidney problems, kidney failure, or take cyp1a2 inhibitors. increased liver blood test values may occur. your doctor will check them before and during treatment. most common side effects include stomach pain, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, and back pain. (♪) ask your doctor about hormone—free veozah... and enjoy more not flashes. nothing comes close to this place in the morning.

i'm so glad i can still come here. you see, i was diagnosed with obstructive hcm. and there were some days i was so short of breath. i thought i'd have to settle for never stepping foot on this trail again. i became great at making excuses. but i have people who count on me so i talked to my cardiologist. i said there must be more we can do for my symptoms. he told me about a medication called camzyos. he said camzyos works by targeting what's causing my obstructive hcm. so he prescribed it and i'm really glad he did. camzyos is used to treat adults with symptomatic obstructive hcm. camzyos may improve your symptoms and your ability to be active. camzyos may cause serious side effects, including heart failure that can lead to death. a risk that's increased if you develop a serious infection or irregular heartbeat or when taking certain other medicines. so do not stop, start or change medicines or the dose without telling your healthcare provider. you must have echocardiograms before and during treatment. seek help if you experience new or worsening symptoms of heart failure. because of this risk, camzyos is only available

through a restricted program. before taking camzyos, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including current or planned pregnancy. today with camzyos, i don't lose my breath as often. my symptoms have improved, helping me go from expecting less to experiencing more. my name is mike. and this is my camzyos moment. call your cardiologist today and see if a camzyos moment may be in your future too. next tonight, rare and next tonight, rare and daring rescues caught on video, an apartment building engulfed in flames in new york's harlem neighborhood. three people were rescued when a firefighter was lowered from the roof to bring them to safety. that apartment says those three and two other victims are in critical condition, one person was killed in the fire, the cause still under investigation. tonight, mississippi's governor has identified two national guard troops killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.

chief warrant officer brian zemek was 36 years old. chief warrant officer derek abbott was 42. the two were on a routine training flight and were killed when their apache helicopter went down in the woods near boonville. the frightening scene when a small plane went down in the waters off miami. skin was no l. my active psoriatic arthritis joint symptoms held me back. don't let symptoms define you. emerge as you. with tremfya®, most people saw 90% clearer skin at 4 months... ...and the majority stayed clearer, at 5 years. tremfya® is proven to significantly reduce joint pain, stiffness and swelling it's just 6 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. emerge as you. emerge tremfyant®. ask you doctor about tremfya®.

( ♪ ♪ ) start your day with nature made. the #1 pharmacist recommended vitamin and supplement brand. breathing claritin clear is like... (♪) is he? confidently walking 8 long haired dogs and living as if he doesn't have allergies? yeah. fast relief of your worst allergy symptoms, like nasal congestion. why do we have to audition again? i don't know. everyone is auditioning to get t-mobile 'magenta status'. drop off your car at dollar... ...and t-mobile will top off the gas. i think that was good. i think that was great. they say i can play high school but... i don't want to take a job from the kids. ♪ get a special rate on your hilton stay. ♪ mom! they'd be crazy not to hire me, right? is this too much? what about the hair? no need to audition. introducing 'magenta status'. premium benefits from brands you love.

what's happening? t-mobile 'magenta status'. (bridget) with thyroid eye disease i hid from the camera. what's happening? and i wanted to hide from the world. for years, i thought my t.e.d. was beyond help... but then i asked my doctor about tepezza. (vo) tepezza is the only medicine that treats t.e.d. at the source not just the symptoms. in a clinical study more than 8 out of 10 patients taking tepezza had less eye bulging. tepezza is an infusion and may cause infusion reactions. tell your doctor right away if you experience high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath or muscle pain. before treatment, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, ibd, or are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant. tepezza may raise blood sugar and may worsen ibd. tepezza may cause severe hearing problems which may be permanent. (bridget) now, i'm ready to be seen again. (vo) visit mytepezza.com to find a ted eye specialist

and to see bridget's before and after photos. nature's bounty hair growth. help grow thicker, fuller hair with just one capsule a day of advanced hair complex. conquer hair thinning... ...and fall in love with your hair all over again. only from nature's bounty. to the >> whit: to the index now, an investigation into what caused a sea plane to crash land off the port of miami, video shows the plane going down in the water on friday, then tipping over, boaters and police sped to the scene, seven people were rescued with no injuries reported.

when we come back, america strong. the teachers' little helpers boosting reading scores. pfizer's pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. so am i. because i'm at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. come on. i already got a pneumonia vaccine, but i'm asking about the added protection of prevnar 20®. if you're 19 or older with certain chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, copd, or heart disease, or are 65 or older, you are at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. prevnar 20® is approved in adults to help prevent infections from 20 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia. in just one dose. don't get prevnar 20® if you've had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. adults with weakened immune systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common side effects were pain and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and joint pain. i want to be able to keep my plans. i don't want to risk ending up in the hospital with pneumococcal pneumonia. that's why i chose prevnar 20®.

ask your doctor or pharmacist about the pfizer vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia. you founded your kayak company because you love the ocean- not spreadsheets. you need to hire. i need indeed. indeed you do. indeed instant match instantly delivers quality candidates matching your job description. visit indeed.com/hire i was scared when i was told age matchirelated macular ription. degeneration could jeopardize my vision. it was hard, but taking preservision was easy. preservision has the exact clinically proven areds 2 formula recommended by the nei. i'm taking control like millions of others. ♪ when you have moderate—to—severe eczema, it's okay to show off. with dupixent, show off your clearer skin and less itch. because you have plenty of reasons to show off your skin. with dupixent, the number one prescribed biologic by dermatologists and allergists, you can stay ahead of your eczema. it helps block a key source of inflammation inside the body

that can cause eczema to help heal your skin from within. many adults saw 90% clearer skin. some even achieved long—lasting clearer skin and fast itch relief after first dose. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. ♪ show off to the world. ask your eczema specialist about dupixent. it's important for young homeowners to let go of the things turning them into their parents. -my instruction manuals. -do you even have -that juicer anymore? -no, i don't. progressive can't save you from becoming your parents. but we can save you money when you bundle home and auto with us. he doesn't even have the juicer. life, diabetes, there's no slowing down. each day is a unique blend of people to see and things to do. that's why you choose glucerna to help manage blood sugar response.

uniquely designed with carbsteady. glucerna. bring on the day. finally tonight, america strong. puppies in the classroom and the mutual benefit for kids and pets. >> they play with us. they're family. >> reporter: the first graders in wilmington, delaware, have a few extra classmates. >> last he took a nap in the alley. >> reporter: foster puppies joining the kids for reading time now fondly known as "puppy time." >> for our reading centers today -- >> reporter: it's all part of a bold idea by teacher brook hughes. >> i fostered puppies during the pandemic. everyone was coming back from covid. everyone was having a hard time

transitioning. i kept thinking about all the wonderful benefits it could bring to the school. >> reporter: part they aring with rags to riches animal rescue in pennsylvania, brooke's foster tails program started over a year ago, the puppies spend nights and weekends with students, their families and other teachers typically for a couple of weeks until the rescue helps place them in forever homes. so far, 51 foster puppies have been adopted through the program and it's also making a big difference in the classroom. >> i left my toys outside. >> reporter: the kids most reluctant for reading are the first ones that want to volunteer for puppy time. we've noticed a huge increase in their reading scores because of it. >> reporter: the puppies and kids are helping each other with joy in their hearts. >> if you're having a hard day the puppies kind of lift your spirits. >> whit: we've fostered many puppies in my house.

great to see the kids helping out. i'm whit johnson in new york, thank you for watching.

right now, thousands of people are gathering for the san francisco chinese new year festival and parade. a beautiful day for a celebration. abc seven meteorologist frances dinglasan has more on what to expect if you're heading out. oh my goodness. customers lined up to support a san jose bakery that says it lost thousands of dollars because of a canceled tesla order. abc seven news starts right now. >> always live abc seven news starts right